The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter staff and the Oak Ridge Police Department recently held an open house celebration for volunteers, local animal groups and residents to show off the shelter’s most recent renovations and improvements.

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By Beverly Majors

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Beverly Majors

Posted Apr. 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Updated Apr 8, 2013 at 6:33 PM

By Beverly Majors

Posted Apr. 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM
Updated Apr 8, 2013 at 6:33 PM

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter staff and the Oak Ridge Police Department recently held an open house celebration for volunteers, local animal groups and residents to show off the shelter’s most recent renovations and improvements.

Also on hand were the shelter's newest employees, Randy Proffitt and Sara Walter, as well as on-site veterinarian Matt Jinx.

Police Chief Jim Akagi, Capt. Mike Uher and Lt. Robin Smith met with volunteers and talked about the changes they will find when helping at the shelter or working with the staff.

The Animal Shelter falls under the Police Department’s supervision.

The most visible renovation at the shelter is the upgraded lobby. The lobby no longer has a four-foot high counter separating visitors from staff members, and the area is now brighter and much more open and inviting.

A new — and improved — clinic is now separated from adoption areas and air-conditioning was added, a first for the local shelter.

But visitors coming to look for pets or adopt a pet will immediately notice the odor — or the lack of odor. The dog and cage area smells clean and fresh.

Uher said keeping it clean and fresh is "an hourly task."

The local shelter gets its animals from all over Anderson County, not just Oak Ridge.

Last fall, Smith said the shelter staff is working on programs to keep animals out of the shelter, along with ways to make adoptions a priority.

According to Smith, the euthanization rate in Oak Ridge is lower than the national average and part of the reason is because of the city’s registration policy.